Team India for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: 15 players list most likely

The Final 15 players of Team India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be selected on January 6 by the five-man selection panel at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters in Mumbai. The team for the tri-series that takes place just before the World Cup 2015, featuring India, Australia and England will also be selected on the same day. The once-in-four-year, colossal event of the cricketing world starting from February 14 will have Team India as the defending champions.

BCCI selection panel announced India’s preliminary 30-man squad for the ICC World Cup 2015 on December 4 with the surprising exclusion of the senior players – Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh. Their axing showed the selection committee’s intention on believing in the current ODI crop in order to retain the World Cup title for India. The 30 probable player’s selection also highlighted the emphasis on giving young talent a chance to perform. Now with the selection being made for the final 15, it will be interesting to watch what team is given to Captain MS Dhoni.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who recently announced his departure from Tests will be leading the young brigade Down Under for the title defence. Giving him complete support in this herculean task of retaining the World Cup trophy is his deputy and new Test captain Virat Kohli, who seems to be in sublime form. The other definite names in the 15-man squad should be blow-hot-blow-cold opener Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane who has shown great form on Australia soil.

The key components of current ODI side, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma should have no problem in getting into team. One name that is likely to bag the ticket is that of Test opener Murali Vijay, who seems to have the right temperament and the recent run feast should help him get noticed among the selection committee members. Wriddhiman Saha is expected to be the reserved wicketkeeper-batsman. Also Read: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Complete Fixtures & Time Table of all Cricket World Cup 2015 Matches

The bowling department will once again be spearheaded by Ishant Sharma. Injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar should be named along with Umesh Yadav. Among the spinners, R Ashwin could get the company of Amit Mishra, thanks to the long boundaries of Australian grounds aiding the leg spinner. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also would hope to recover from his injury by the World Cup season.

Team India for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: 15 players list (most likely)

MS Dhoni (Captain and WK), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Wriddhimann Saha (Wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay

Team India for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: 30 probable players list

MS Dhoni (Captain and Wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Manoj Tiwary, Manish Pandey, Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, Robin Uthappa, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Stuart Binny, Parvez Rasool, R Ashwin, Karn Sharma, Amit Mishra, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohit Sharma and Ashok Dinda.

Team India’s 15-man Squad who won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011

MS Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, Ashish Nehra, R Ashwin, Piyush Chawla, Munaf Patel.